Fish lure



Feb. 21, 1933. w. A. MEDLIN 1,898,200

FISH LURE Filed July 3, 1931 Awewroe ArmAWEY I Patented Feb. 21, 1933 PATENT OFFICE WENZEL A. MEDLIN, F CLEVELAND, OHIO FISH LURE Application filed July 3, 1931. Serial No. 548,488.

The invention relates to fish lures and, in its broader aspects, is ap licable to lures simulating various types or orms of live bait. lhe principal object of the invention 1s to provide a lure which, when attached to a line and played through the water, or sub eeted to the action of a water current, Wlll move in a manner closely resembling the movements of a live specimen which the lure simulates.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved form of spoon-type lure which, in addition to the characteristic above noted, possesses the further advantage of simplicity of construction and adaptability for use in weedy water with a minimum tendency to snagging.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of a spoon lure of improved form hav ing a novel arrangement ofthe fish hooks attached thereto.

With the foregoing objects in view, as well *as others more or less incidental or ancillaryto those mentioned, the invention consists in certain structural combinations and arrange ments which will be set forth in the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figs. 1 and 2 are a side and a front elevation, respectively, of a plug type of lure embodying my improvements.

Fig. 3 and 4 are fragmentary views in front elevation and vertical section, respectively, showing a modification of the lure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view and Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively, a side elevation and a front elevation of a modified form of the plug lure.

Fig. 8 is a plan view and Figs. 9 and 10 are, respectively, a side elevation and a front elevation of a spoon-type lure embodying my improvements.

Fig. 11 is a plan view and Figs. 12 and 13 are, respectively, a side elevation and a front elevation of another form of spoon lure embodying my improvements.

Referring in detail 'to the constructions illustrated in the drawing, and first to the form of device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 1

designates the body part of a lure of the plug or minnow type which carries on its under side a group of fish hooks 2 secured to the body of the lure in well known manner by a clip 3. The lure also carries at its rear or tail end a second group of hooks 4 which are secured by a clip 5. At its front end the body of the lure is fitted with a downwardly and forwardly projecting fin or plate 6 designed to present to the water an inclined surface of considerable area..

The features of construction so far described are such as are well known and in common use. Heretofore a lure of this character has been provided at or near its front end with a fixed ring or eye to receive the fish line, the latter thus having a fixed point of attachment to the lure. As distinguished from this, in carrying out my invention, I secure to the fin 6 an elongated transversely extending wire loop 7 on which is loosely and slidably mounted a small ring 8 to which the fish line is intended to be secured.

The lure is also provided on its upper side with an elongated, longitudinally extending wire loop 9 on which is loosely and slidably mounted a ring 10 to which the fish line may alternatively be attached.

In the use of the lure, assuming that the fish line is attached to the ring 8, it will be seen that when the lure is played through the water by the fisherman by drawing upon the fish line intermittently in different directions,

the ring 8, because of its loose fit on the loop 7, is permitted to slide on the latter, thus in effect varying the point of attachment of the line to the lure, with the result that the lure may be caused to move in the water in different directions with sudden, darting movements which are characteristic of a live minnow.

By attaching the fish line to the ring 10 on the loop 9 instead of to the ring 8 a somewhat different darting movement of the lure in the water can be produced by the fisherman, the sliding of the ring 10 on the loop 9 causing changes in the effective point of attachment of the line with corresponding sudden phanges in the direction of movement of the In Figs. 3 and i I have illustrated a more or less obvious equivalent method of atlure isthus given lateral, darting movements taching the fish line to the fin or plate 60f of the same'general character as those diethe lure shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Here the scribed in connection with the plug or plate or fin 6 is formed with a transverse minnow type of lure. My improved spoon 5 slot 6" in which is loosely and slidably lure, because of the adequate lifting power 70 mounted a member 8 formed at its front end secured by the upwardly inclined front end, with an eye to which the fish line can be secan be made relatively wide and thus it becured. The sliding movement of the eye comes feasible to' attach hooks at the opinember in the slot 6" obviously will have posits sides of the spoon in addition to the 10 the same general effect as the movement of ooks at the rear endof the spoon. An ex- 7::

the ring 8 on the loop 7 in the first described tremely eflective lure is thus secured. construction. In Figs. 11, 12 and 13 I have shown another In the modified form of'lure shown in form of spoon lure embodying certain of my Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the construction of the body impr vements. In this case the main body 15 t 1 th h k 2 4 th h k tt hi g part of-the lure is formed from fiat sheet means 3a and 5a and the inclined plate or fin metal and, as in the spoon just described, has 6a is similar to that of the corresponding Its 111 n 200 bent upward at an angle to parts f th fi t d ib d lu e, I thi the intermediate portion of the plate. The ond construction, however, the means of at- Feel end S 8180 en upward but at a 20 taching the line comprises an upstanding lesser angle thanthe fl'Ollh P8311} 20a. The loop 11, the legs of which rise at either side Plate 13 f e h 8tl0D at 200 on of the body of the lure and the transverse part the lohglhldlnal 3X15 0 the hire at t bend of which extends over the body of the lure. between the real P811? 205 the er m;- On this loop 11 is loosely and slidably mountdlate P of the P Perforatloh 15 25 ed an attaching i 1 of a size to permit insertion of the barbed In the use f h second f f it end of the fish hook but to prevent passage will be seen that, as in the fi t f f com of'the eye end of the hook. The hook when struction, the ring is free to slide on the thushlhselted 15 e e e to h real eI 1d loop and consequently that as the lure is P QObmthe Posltlon mfhcetedlh y sult- 30 played through the water by the fisherman able manner, as by soldering at 22, 22. Adthe ring will take different positions on the Jaceht h bend hetweeh the from? P1117200 loop, thus changing the effective point of and h mteljmedlalle P 0f the Spoon the attachment of the line to the lure with rei h Provlded hrhhsversely h sultant darting movements of the lure in difmg loop 23 9 Whlch 1s lhosely and h 35 femnt directions V ably inouitittedha'ing 24 to which the fish line The spoon-t of lure shown in Fi s. 8, y a he 9 9 and 10 ggg an elongated bodygpart 'lh1s last described spoon in use functions 13 formed from flat sheet metal and having a In h the shine manner as i n first front end section 13a bent upward at a rather descnbed .apparehh W1 out sharp angle to the main Portion of the body ther description. It is to be noted, however,

and its rear end portion 136 also bent upward that thls hecohd spooh because of the form but preferably at a lesser angle than in the of the mam body h the armhgemhht case of the front end 13a. The main, straight g the fi hook 1s especmhy wen adapthd portion of the body 13 is formed at either or usem weeds water ohvlhhsly the spoon 45 with perforations to receive rings 14, H is well adapted to slide over underlying weeds which serve as attaching means for groups of e gf without shagging hook" hooks 15, 15. The rear end 13b is also perh apparent foregoing deforated to receive an attaching ring 16. for a :fi t at an of h vanous forms i 60 group of hooks 17. In the region of the bend g i g fi fi the dlshhc' or angle between the front part'13a and the ea f w may rtefly character middle, main part of the body 13 an elonfi i f 16 mp hhe attachment gated transversely arranged wire loop 18 is w apparentt at m Its broadest the loop slot or other means for rovi rigidly secured to the lure and on this loo P is ad tta bin 19 f V th g the movable point of attachment for the line 55 g ah c g nhg 9 can be applied to the body of the lure in a 1 0 In the operation of this last described lure, great vanety of p031 OHS other than those 11' the effect of the upwardly inclined front end zi z i g xgg i gg charunder the draft of the fish line serves to attachment. For example, while 60 sustain the lure in the water or tocause it to f th a 1 m trans 111 the Water amoldlhg to the Velocity verse portion of the i oop in is of its movement, and as the lure is pilaayed by d in a, vertical plane at right angles. the fisherman byantermittcnt dra 0 1 th to the longitudinal axis of the 1 it is ob hne in varying direct ons the hue attaching vious that the transverse portion 0 the loop 55 ring 19 is free to slide on-the loop 18 and the or slot may extend at any other angle to said longitudinal axis. It will also be observed that, in the case of the loop 7 in Fig. 1 and the loop 11 in Fig. 6, the attaching rings are free to slide not only on the transverse portion of the loop but also on the side branches thereof, thus aifording a great variety of eifects corresponding to the various positions of the line attaching ring on the loop. While I do not limit my invention to any particular relative "arrangement of the attaching loop or slot, I prefer an arrangement such that the efiective point of attachment for the line shall be at a point more or less to the rear of the front end of the main body-part of the lure. This, of course, is especiall important in the case of the spoon type 0 lure illustrated in which cases the lifting action incident to the upwardly inclined front portions of the lure is particularly effective because the point of attachment is to the rear of the front end of the body of the lure. Furthermore, in the case of all of the various types of lures the arrangement of the loop, slot or other attaching means to the rear of the front end of the lure insures the securing of a turning or pivotal movement of the lure about an axis well back of the front end or tip of the lure, thus securing the quick turning and darting movement of the lure which is characteristic of the live minnow.

From what has been said it will be apparent that my improvements can be embodied in a great variety of forms and that the invention is not limited to the particular forms illustrated except as is indicated by the definitions in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a fish lure, the combination of a body part, and means for connecting a line to said body part constructed and arranged to permit the point of attachment of the line to move a substantial amount in relation to the body of the lure and thereby cause the draught of the line to move the lure in adifferent direction as the said point of attachment changes.

2. In a fish lure, the combination of a body part, and means for-connecting a line to the to the body part and a ring arranged slidably thereon, the said loop being disposed transversely of the longitudinal axis of the body part of the lure, whereby the draught of the line will cause the lure to move in the lure diiferent directions as the said ring slides on the loop. I

4. In a fish lure, the combination of an elongated plate-like body part having a portion thereof at its front end bent upward in relation to-the longitudinal axis of said body part, and means to the rear of the front end of the lure for attaching a line thereto, said means being adapted to permit the point of attachment of the line to move transversely of the longitudinal axis of the lure.

5. In a fish lure, the combination of an elongated plate-like body part having a portion thereof at its front end bent upward at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the body part, and means in the region of the bend of the body part for attaching a line to the lure, said means being adapted to permit the point of attachment of the line to move transversely of the longitudinal axis of the plate-like body part.

6. In a fish lure, the combination of an elongated plate-like body part having portions at the front and rear ends thereof bent upward relative to its longitudinal axis, and means for attaching a line to the lure disposed to the rear of the front end thereof, said means being adapted to permit the point of attachment of the'line to move transversely of the longitudinal axis of the lure.

7. In a fish lure, the combination of an elongated plate-like body part having a portion'thereof at its front end bent upward in relation to the longitudinal axis of said body part, means disposed at each of the longitudinal side edges of the lure for attachment of one or more fish hooks thereto, and means disposed to the rear of the front end of the lure for attaching a line thereto, said means being adapted to permit the point of attach-' ment of the line to move transversely of the longitudinal axis of the lure.

8. In a fish lure, the combination of an elongated plate-like body part having portions at the front and rear ends thereof bent upward in relation to the longitudinal axis of the lure, a single fish hook rigidly secured to the lure with its shank disposed against and parallel to the rear end portion of the lure and with its sharp end extending upward in relation to the body of the lure, and means dis osed to the rear of the front end of or attaching a line thereto, said means being adapted to permit the point of attachment of the line to move transversely of the longitudinal axis of the lure.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature, 7 WENZEL A. MEDLIN. 

